“City Lights: The Oscar Peterson Quartet

Mack Avenue Music Group/Two Lions Announce
City Lights: The Oscar Peterson Quartet – Live in Munich, 1994
Out November 15th

Album Captures Concert Following His Recovery From a Stroke

October 11, 2024: Today, Mack Avenue Music Group / Two Lions announced City Lights: The Oscar Peterson Quartet – Live in Munich, 1994, out November 15th. City Lights beautifully captures one of Oscar Peterson‘s first concerts after he suffered a stroke during a performance the year prior that rendered his left hand useless. Following a year of recovery and rehabilitation, Peterson took the stage in Munich to prove to his collaborators, fans, and himself that the title “Maharajah of the Keyboard” bestowed on him by Duke Ellington still rang true. The recording features Peterson with an all-star band including Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (bass), Lorne Lofsky (guitar) and Martin Drew (drums). The announcement comes with the first single “City Lights.”

Considered one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time, Oscar Peterson released over 200 recordings, won seven GRAMMY® Awards, as well as a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy, and received numerous other awards and honors over the span of his career.

In May 1993 while on tour at The Blue Note in NYC, Peterson suffered a stroke that affected the left side of his body. The following year was filled with doctor’s appointments and physical therapy, and at 68 years old the piano great was forced to reinvent his playing style with the support of friends and family. Demonstrating his undiminished inventive prowess, Peterson then returned to the stage on July 1, 1994, walking onto the stage at the Vienna Staatsoper to a nearly ten-minute ovation from the audience.

Recorded twelve days after the Vienna performance, City Lights: The Oscar Peterson Quartet – Live in Munich, 1994 is the fifth release in Mack Avenue Records’ partnership with Two Lions Records, under the loving curation of Oscar’s wife Kelly Peterson. The music – nearly 80 minutes in length – is also a bit unusual in that five of the nine pieces contained are Peterson originals, reminding us that Oscar was not just a brilliant interpreter, but an exceptional composer as well. Two standards, an Ørsted Pedersen samba, and an Ellington piece round out the repertoire.

City Lights: The Oscar Peterson Quartet – Live in Munich, 1994 will be released on CD as a 4-panel digipak with 8-page folder, and as a 2 LP royal plum colored vinyl in gatefold jacket.

Photo Credit: Al Gilbert

Tracklisting:
1. There Will Never Be Another You
2. The Gentle Waltz
3. Kelly’s Blues
4. Love Ballade
5. City Lights
6. You Look Good To Me
7. Samba Petite
8. Satin Doll
9. Nighttime

Missing Piece Group